Arun Jaitley Questions Rahul Gandhi's Commitment To Politics

Press Trust Of India

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks during a conference on âRegulatory Framework for International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Indiaâ, in Gandhinagar, India, Friday, April 10, 2015. Jaitley announced rules and regulations for foreign and domestic financial services companies who wish to set up operations at India's first IFSC. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

NEW DELHI — Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, saying he is now on a "rent a cause" phase and questioned his "commitment" to politics.

"What is the kind of commitment to politics that you suddenly disappear for months together and then you come back and say that I will pick up an issue every day merely because it will make my presence felt," Jaitley said, targeting the Congress Vice President.

Gandhi returned home on April 16 from his 56-day unexplained sabbatical, which had raised questions over his leadership of the party at a time when Congress has been battered in elections repeatedly.

"According to me, politics is not a one-off activity...you have to be consistent and have to be almost always there," Jaitley told TimesNow.

"In a political debate people have a right, he certainly has a right. Today he is on a rent-a-cause phase. He looks up one issue every day and wants to give a byte on that. He is raising issues every morning to make his presence felt," the senior BJP leader said.

Jaitley said the Congress Vice President was probably trying to reassure his own party that he is there and "therefore he needs to pick up an issue with utmost frequency (so) that he can make his presence felt."